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Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Editorial: Showing up
AFTER more than five months of hiding ex-Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano surfaced in a TV interview only to state what had been expected from him all along; a denial that he helped President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cheat in the national elections.
With a bandana around his head the ex-Comelec official, thus, effectively debunked speculations that he had been killed by the administration to silence him about the allegations of electoral cheating as referred to in the "Hello Garci" controversy but it didn't answer questions of whether or not he traveled abroad to avoid detection.
With his denial there is perhaps little to investigate by Congress on Garcillano and only through his personal appearance in a congressional inquiry could lawmakers interested to find out about the truth can properly grill the former Comelec commissioner on the CDs.
The advantage here being that Garcillano is not covered by that questionable Arroyo order banning public officials from testifying before Congress without the President's approval--a constant thorn on the side of lawmakers from both houses.
Then again the problem lies with convincing this former official to testify which is difficult if one considers his "five hopes." That aside from ensuring that he continues to attends the hearings with minimal fuss.
Then again there is also Garcillano's decision whether or not to show up at all as he claimed that some opposition politicians like Senator Panfilo Lacson wants him dead allegedly.
Which is a puzzle because the political opposition more or less wants Garcillano's testimony as fodder for their campaign against Arroyo--in fact the opposition moved to issue an arrest warrant on him certifying that he is, admittedly more valuable to them alive than dead.
Garcillano's denial also confirms the suspicions of the political opposition--more specifically Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr.--that his statement was "scripted" with Malacañang's approval. No wonder leading administration allies were so vocal about Garci in recent days.
Again there is cause to wonder if inviting Garcillano would be a waste of time because if the ex-official sticks to his story the opposition would be perceived as barking up the whole tree or worse, bullying Garci just like what the Senate is perceived to have done with National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.
At any rate his presence would probably be the first step to unlocking the mystery behind that "Hello Garci" CD.
(November 29, 2005 issue)
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